3FE Coolant Leak

[mbclay21]

Hey guys,
I recently purchased a 1992 FJ80. I've got a coolant leak that I'm having trouble pinning down. Here's the facts:

-No overheating issues whatsoever (A/C on, climbing a hill, no problem).

-Leaks intermittently. Only leaks when I'm dressed for church or work; I've tried twice to get it to leak while wearing crappy clothes with no luck.

-Drips from the front of the oil pan, slightly to the drivers side.

-Doesn't appear to be coming from Thermostat housing or water pump (only 10k miles on water pump).

-It leaks about 1 to 2 cups each time it leaks, and doesn't appear to have any oil in it (no smoke at start up either).

-Radiator is full, but reservoir is a 1/2 inch above the LOW line.


I've purchased a FSM and its in the mail, but I'm still not sure what is causing the leak.

Any suggestions on a likely culprit (hose, fitting, etc) that's on the front/drivers side of the 3FE?

Any suggestions on how to make it leak? I've tried A/C on, Heater on, at operating temp, at start up, at shut down.

Is it possible that the low line on the overflow reservoir is wrong, and maybe its burping fluid to maintain the 1/2 inch above the low line? Could the cooling system burp coolant that would drip down the front of the block?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[mr jits]

Do you know when all the coolant hoses were last replaced? If not recently, I'd start with that as regular PM work.

 

[mbclay21]

I'm sorry - when I said "coolant" I meant anti-freeze. The A/C is running like a champ.

I've got a water/antifreeze leak.

 

[diego355]

Check the hoses. I had a leak were the clamps werent tight enought and the upper rad hose was not fully inserted

 

[mbclay21]

I was able to get it to leak this afternoon after a 6 minute drive home. The coolant appears to be coming from a gasket on the front of the engine below the thermostat housing and above front crank. It's gotta be about the most inaccessible spot on the front of the engine. When my FSM comes I'll figure out the part name and get back to you. I'd post a pic but it's barely visible without removing belts and everything they turn.

 

[krzyabncanuck]

Water pump. Could be coming from the weep hole on it also.

 

[Otter]

Water pump. Could be coming from the weep hole on it also.

+1 on the pump.

 

[jonheld]

You mentioned that your water pump has only 10K miles on it. Was it an OEM replacement or aftermarket part?
The location of the leak seems to be the water pump or water pump gasket. There's little else on the front of the motor that would leak coolant.

 

[mbclay21]

The previous owner replaced the water pump so I don't know if its OEM.

It looks more like its coming from the gasket. Would the water pump itself leak and still keep the cruiser from overheating? Remember, it's not having any temp issues under a variety of driving conditions.

 

[jonheld]

Well, if the gasket is bad, then the water pump has to come off anyway. You might as well replace it with OEM. There's a boatload of stuff that has to come apart to replace the water pump. Years ago I wrote up my water pump replacement. It's a PITA job.

 

[Otter]

If you've got to pull the water pump, I would recommend you go ahead and change out all of your coolant hoses at the same time.

Also, a good tip is to cover your radiator with a piece of cardboard, so you don't knock holes in it like I did when I changed out my water pump. This tip was just recently passed on to me.

Have fun. It's a good job that helps you get to know the front end of your engine.

 

[mbclay21]

Thanks for the tips!

I found the receipt where the PO had a new water pump installed. It was only $80 in 2011 so I'm assuming it wasn't OEM.

I think I'm going to try and tackle this myself, but I'm a little nervous I'll get disassembled and find out I've got some other problem like a blown head gasket.

What else do I need to replace while i'm at the water pump?
-upper radiator hose
-lower radiator hose
-oil cooler hose(short red section only that attaches to the water pump?)
-?????

 

[jonheld]

Found my writeup. Have a read:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/239380-live-help-wanted-water-pump-remove.html

 

[jvazquez53]

Pin hole on a hose...

 

[matttaylor1976]

Its a 92, HG's aren't a problem like in the later models. Swap the pump and gasket then hoses if needed.

 

[mbclay21]

Thanks Jon!

 

[mbclay21]

Took all the crap out to be able to see the water pump last night. The weep hole looks ok and the pump turns smooth. It looks as though the culprit is the water pump gasket.

I'm gonna change out water pump and gasket, thermostat and gasket, oil cooler hose, lower radiator hose, and the two other hoses connected to water pump.

Does anyone know the name for these other two hoses?

Is cdan the best parts supplier? Anyone have a number for him?

 

[mbclay21]

I've got everything out of the way of the pump. Looks like there are three studs securing pump to block and a fourth hole that I'm assuming was a bolt that must have rattled off (probably why the gasket was leaking).

Based on pictures I've seen, one of my studs is not in the same location as shown on other 3FE's. Of the four holes (upper left, lower left, upper right, lower right), which hole should the bolt go in?

 

[Tenzig Norgay]

looks like the lower right(DS)

 

[jonheld]

Passenger side of water pump is 2 studs that secure the water pump and the AC idler pulley bracket. There is a bolt on the AC pulley bracket on the far passenger side that needs to be removed as well. That goes direct to the block.

The 3rd stud is holding one of the alternator brackets or some other bracket IIRC, but I can't remember if it's upper or lower on the driver side of the water pump. The last remaining hole is a bolt.